badgercub

Who cares what he was signed for. He was used as a starter and failed miserably. Saying it's not his fault that he played that much hardly justifies his presence in the lineup on a regular basis. He can't return. SF dumped the guy when they had a far more potent lineup to hide him in than the Cubs did. The Cubs signed him knowing that Nomar was unlikely to play full-time, and if they didn't know that they were just too stupid too know how bad Neifi is (which is debatable). Why are people trying to gloss over how bad Neifi is? Prior to Nomar's hot August, the Cubs were at the bottom of the league in terms of production from SS, and Neifi accounted for the vast majority of that. He hurts the ballclub when he plays. He'd be a fine $500,000 25th man. But that type of player is a dime a dozen. But because the manager is so ignorant of the reality of baseball stats, you cannot bring Neifi back in any capacity next season if Dusty is still around. Dusty didn't even try to hide him in the lineup. he batted him leadoff when he had much better options in Jerry Hairston or Todd Walker IMHO when that rash of injuries occurred, I thought Barret should have been battting second over the duo of Neifi and Patterson. If, and that's a big "if", Neifi had batted eighth all year his crappiness may not have affected the lineup as much as it has.

Well what do you think roids do? Just taking them doesn make you bigger. Taking them allows you to recover from said rigorous workouts a lot faster. I am not saying Nomar used roids, but roids is what allows you to work out so hard and have such a regimen.

Kerry pitched two innings last night, no way he pitches today.

Well, Baker quit on them a long time ago.

I would much rather see (given that group of players): Murton Nomar Lee Ramirez Barrett Patterson Perez Macias Maddux

Some of those guys will get called up when rosters expand, not sure how much all of them will play though. This is a pathetic excuse for a ballclub and blame should be placed from top to bottom. Players are not mentally into the game, the Manager hasn't a clue, and obviously Hendry deserves to be questioned as well. I hope we see a whole new starting outfield in 2007, use the last month and a half to evaluate Garciapara and bring up some of the young arms and let them start auditioning for next year. I like that Dempster would like to come back next year whether as closer, set up, or starter, let's see what Williamson can do other than that the bullpen is wide open. As far as the rotation goes only Z and Prior should be counted on for next year. Who knows what will happen with Wood but you better have a plan B in place. Maddux looks like he will be back that leaves one or two spots in the rotation open. Rich Hill is not helping his chances with his performance of late and Williams has some work to do.

What list is that...the DL? :D Is Williamson signed for next year? Yes, he got the same deal as Dempster did and the Cubs hold an option on him for next year, I can't remember the amount but I think it was $500,000. this year with a option for 2 million next year? or maybe 1 million, not sure.

I can't speak for others but my feeling is the kid is hitting 400 and has a 500 OBP so let him get a chance to prove he does or doesn't belong. The Macias types have already proved that they stink so let Murton play for the rest of the season and see what happens. I agree, I have no problem with Murton, but unless he develops a little bit of power you will need to make up for his lack thereof somewhere else.

I don't like the idea of Hairston being the back up at SS. If Cedeno would go down for a week to ten days I think it would be brutal having Hairston out there. Second of all that Bullpen would be worse than what is being run out there now. I think those spots will be determined next spring, I would leave Dempster in the closer role with Williamson as the set up guy, and I really think Wellemeyer will be in the mix next year along with a few other youngsters not on your list (Guzman, Piggy, maybe Valdez). I also like the idea of packaging some of the youngsters together in a trade, although I think Griffey would be a huge mistake. Hendry has gone down that road of gambling on oft injured players, and with the exception of Dempster and maybe Williamson, it hasn't worked out well at all. I do not know who Hendry should target, but I think Griffey would end up being a worse sign than Nomar has been.

wrong thread

For all we have heard of the Cubs farm system they do not have one homegrown starter position player. Murton even came from the Red Sox organization so other than Cedeno the Cubs have done a poor job on developing position players. I believe that part of that is due to the strategy of drafting so many pitchers and then trading for or signing position players.

Recently they have traded away a lot of prospects and spent gobs on FA's. But the cornerstone of those championship teams were all home grown. Jeter, Bernie Williams, Posada, Rivera. Recently you see them keeping their better prospects in Robinson Cano, and Melkie Cabrera

You sir are an Estimated Prophet!!! Eyes of the World. I loved those shows at Soldier Field.

I have thought this the last couple of games when Aramis has gotten on anytime from the 7th inning on that Dusty should pinch run for him since it is such a close game, has anyone else thought this? Most likely he will get another at bat so I can see why you would leave him in, but he can't score on an extra base hit from first or a base hit from second.

I expect it to stop because they are playing above their talent level right now. Also, what examples of fundamental baseball are the Astros executing? I don't understand why that phrase seemingly gets thrown in to describe a team any time they have a hot streak. Clemens, Pettit, Oswalt, Lidge - those no talent bums. Pitching is what is carrying them, and they have a very talented pitching staff.

AMEN! I was disgusted last night to not see pitchers (Williams and Remlinger) cover first base. Guys not know how to execute a rundown. Not be able to get runners in from third base with less than two outs. The Cubs are not playing good baseball, and not because they are bad, but because they have no focus. These are things that should be ingrained in them since they played little league or at least since high school ball. Just makes me sick.

I agree, without the power numbers Raffy would have been nothing special as a corner OF/1B/DH. In fact his career may have ended by now.

I would like to see Hendry package some prospects and make some trades either this year or in the offseason to address some of the needs. There isn't much out there in FA next year so I think this would be the most logical move. You could also see one or two slots filled with some of the youngsters. You have to remember that Walker, Nomar are not under contract and I believe the Cubs have an option on Burnitz (maybe mutual) so you maybe looking at all new outfielders and new double play combination next year.

Apples and Oranges really. But, I'll disagree. With whatever you want to say about taking steroids, the ultimate point was to win. There is never any potential to throw a game. When betting on your own team, there is that potential. That's why Shoeless Joe isn't in the HOF, and that's why Rose will never be either. Although they are certainly not the same things, I equate them both in my mind when I consider a person's character and being deserving of the HOF. I would never vote a person into the baseball HOF if I knew they had used steroids - ESPECIALLY someone who stood in front of millions of people and said they had never used them. I don't care that they may have used them to try to win - that's a terrible argument in my mind. It's cheating any way you stretch it, and it ruins the game imho. Personally I believe in my heart that the use of steroids in baseball has had a much much more detrimental affect on the sport than anything Pete Rose did while gambling. How many young kids who didn't use steroids never made it to the big leagues because of those who did? How many game results were affected by guys who were using steroids? How many championships, MVP's, batting titles, Cy Young awards etc... were affected because of the use of steroids? I just believe that if you're going to forgive someone who is a proven user and allow them into the HOF, you should forgive Pete Rose and allow him in as well. It will be up to the sportswriters to determine if Raffy is going to get into the hall and unlike any of the other sports, baseball has listed character as a determining factor as to whether or not a vote may be cast for someone. Pete Rose has been banned from baseball while Raffy has not and until the penalty for Steroids is a lifetime ban then players that are caught using, still have a chance to get in. Yup - I understand the difference between the two, and I do understand that it will be up to the sportswriters to make or not make the choice, I guess I'm just stating my personal opinion that I would find it hypocritical and it would personally taint the HOF in my eyes for someone who has been caught using steroids to be allowed in, while Pete Rose is not. Again, me personal opinion (and all these are personal opinions) is that neither one of them deserve to be in the HOF, I just think it would be wrong for one to get in while the other does not. As an aside - how is Madison these days? My wife and I both went to college there and if we had been able to find good paying jobs there in our fields of interest we'd still be there! We both LOVED the city and campus! Madison is good. Heading down to the Memorial Union Terrace for a few beers tonight in fact. When did you go to school here? I was a student for '89 to '94?

Apples and Oranges really. But, I'll disagree. With whatever you want to say about taking steroids, the ultimate point was to win. There is never any potential to throw a game. When betting on your own team, there is that potential. That's why Shoeless Joe isn't in the HOF, and that's why Rose will never be either. Although they are certainly not the same things, I equate them both in my mind when I consider a person's character and being deserving of the HOF. I would never vote a person into the baseball HOF if I knew they had used steroids - ESPECIALLY someone who stood in front of millions of people and said they had never used them. I don't care that they may have used them to try to win - that's a terrible argument in my mind. It's cheating any way you stretch it, and it ruins the game imho. Personally I believe in my heart that the use of steroids in baseball has had a much much more detrimental affect on the sport than anything Pete Rose did while gambling. How many young kids who didn't use steroids never made it to the big leagues because of those who did? How many game results were affected by guys who were using steroids? How many championships, MVP's, batting titles, Cy Young awards etc... were affected because of the use of steroids? I just believe that if you're going to forgive someone who is a proven user and allow them into the HOF, you should forgive Pete Rose and allow him in as well. It will be up to the sportswriters to determine if Raffy is going to get into the hall and unlike any of the other sports, baseball has listed character as a determining factor as to whether or not a vote may be cast for someone. Pete Rose has been banned from baseball while Raffy has not and until the penalty for Steroids is a lifetime ban then players that are caught using, still have a chance to get in.

IIRC, don't most teams put a lot of guys on waivers after the trade deadline with no intention of making a trade but possibly hoping to slip another player through?

Both Wood and Maddux have no trade clauses, and if Maddux doesn't get the necessary innings for his auto vest, that will most likely mean the Cubs have failed in the wild card attempt. By the way, it's a pretty poor free agent class, so don't be surprised if the Cubs operate on a $85-90M payroll in 2006, and that expand that to the $110M level in 2007. Hoops, with a weak free agent class, not wanting to see a repeat of what happened last year in the Rule V draft, can't you see Hendry possibly making a trade or two possibly this season, or in the offseason? When do you have to solidify the 40 man before the Rule V draft?

How do players named in Jose's book prove their innocence? Take the test. Which all of them should have been required to under MLB's new testing policy. We should find out real soon who has and who hasn't. Since it has been reported that some forms of steroids can be detected up 18 months on the long side, and 3 months on the short side. The new policy went into effect right before the season and I believe that most have been tested by now, Raffy was tested months ago and the info was just released. I think you will see some more big names outed in the next month or so, even if they did stop using before the testing was in effect.

He said he didn't know what it was. When he argued his case he could not name the item he took that had steroids in it or remember anything that it could be. He didn't know what it was? Doesn't MLB tell you what substance you tested positive for? That sounds a bit out there to me. It's in the "I got caught taking steroids 101" book that the players recieve. It worked for Sheffield. I believe there is something in the CBA that prevents either side from discussing the particulars. MLB need more transparency. I would think it would be in Raffy's best interest to get out and tell his "story" and defend himself against all the speculation surrounding his circumstances.

Anyone else see the "Big Idea" with Donny Deutch, last night? He had on Jose Canseco and his attorney. They were talking about how flawed the testing was and the steroids can be detected up to a year after taking them. I don't know how valid a point that is, but it could ensnare a lot of guys who used last year but stopped after MLB instituted it's new policy. Canseco believes that is how Palmeiro got caught. He believes Raffy quit but that there may have been some kind of residual that showed up in the urine. Food for thought, and if it is true, we may well see a lot of people getting 10 game suspensions. I think MLB needs to be much more transparent in dealing with the results of these tests, it is a joke that the players can't tell their side of the story after they get caught. I wanna know what they exactly tested positve for and so on and so forth.